The Community Appreciation Night was held at the Greene County High School Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, June 16. It was organized by Jefferson Matters: A Main Street & Chamber Community.
The focus of the event was to honor volunteers, educate the community about the merged organization and present awards, including the Above and Beyond the Call (ABC) Award. Presenters during the evening included Jamie Daubendiek, president of JM:MS&CC; Reegan Hanigan, director of JM:MS&CC; Pat Richards, chairperson of the tourism team; Jen Badger, representative of the Retail Revamped team; Susan Thiel, chairperson of the organization team; Philip Heisterkamp, chairperson of the events team; Karen Lawton, chairperson of the design team; Peg Raney and Jill Morton, chairpersons of the economic vitality team and the Ambassadors; and Deb McGinn, chairperson of the Tower View Team. Each chairperson gave a synopsis of the activities of their respective teams.
The final presentation of the evening was the 2020 ABC Award, presented by Gary and Shirley Haupert, 2019 ABC Award recipients.
Harry Ahrenholtz was named the 2020 ABC Award Recipient. Ahrenholtz was nominated for his service in Habitat for Humanity, serving on the affiliate board of directors and overseeing operations of Greene, Boone, and Guthrie Counties. He also served as president of Habitat for Humanity as well as being instrumental in expanding the Habitat affiliate to serve families in Guthrie County.
It has always been a goal of Ahrenholtz to eliminate poverty housing in Greene County and is “often the first on site and the last to leave.” According to one nomination, “Harry has a unique ability to relate with a volunteer group, support them and get things done.”
He is active in the First United Methodist Church’s Habitat work group and has served as an emcee for Nativity Festival fundraising Christmas concerts. Ahrenholtz has also served as project manager and site manager for several Helping Hands home repair projects in Greene County, directing and coordinating all construction activities.
According to another nomination, “Under his leadership, Greene County Habitat has become one of the most progressive and recognized Habitat affiliates in Iowa and surrounding states.”
Ahrenholtz has likewise been a chairperson of the First United Methodist Church board of trustees. He serves as a Jefferson city council member. It is because of these efforts that Harry Ahrenholtz has earned the respect and gratitude of those whom he serves.
